‘Serious Erosion’ under Kettle Creek Bridge could cost Port Stanley Terminal Rail $500,000

Erosion issues beneath the Kettle Creek Bridge have forced Port Stanley Terminal Rail to temporarily suspend operations.

The condition of the 1908-built Kettle Creek bridge has forced the Port Stanley Terminal Rail (PSTR) to temporarily suspend operations and could cost the organization $500,000 in repairs.

“We had an inspection in December, and the divers had noticed some serious erosion underneath the south concrete abutment,” said Dan Vernackt, president of the PSTR.

They quickly cancelled their final two Santa Claus train rides and started developing a repair strategy.

“We own the bridge, and the repair estimates are creeping up to almost a half $1 million,” said Vernackt. “Hopefully it comes in a little bit under that and we are exploring, some outside funding to help with this project.”

Vernackt calls it the ‘biggest engineering hurdle’ they have faced in their 43-year history.

The issues are caused by a few problems.

“Low water in Kettle Creek causes problems all over,” he said. “In the last 100 years or so, Kettle Creek has actually shifted from its original spot when the bridge was built. Now the water is coming down the river and there’s a bit of a bend there, and it’s swirling and speeding up when it goes past that south abutment. And it has unfortunately taken some of that, riverbed with it.”

The PSTR doesn’t run during these months and the hope is it will be ready in time for spring.

“The engineering drawings are all done up and they’ve been submitted,” said Vernackt. “We’re hoping that the construction crews can start in the next couple of weeks and if that happens, it’s about a four-week project, and we hopefully will be ready to go by Easter.”